DOJOLAND (Elementary)

Chapter 9 - Calm and Laid back Fishing trip

Within a month, every 6th grader in school was aware that, whether alone or using tactics, 'The gang of two' simply could not be beaten in a fight. Some grumbled, feeling frustration at realizing that their own strength might never catch up; others complained, claiming that Hei had lied to them all throughout last year; but still, others decided to befriend the strong duo of their elementary school.

You could buy off favors from Monky by giving him naughty (R-15) magazines. Presto, who had been one of the most frequent challengers ended up shrugging and did his best to be on Monky's side. Any other boys up to no good also tried to get Monky's support for any kind of pervy or even harassment activities. Still, there was a very solid line that they could never cross as Hei had decided to put his foot down when it came to harassing the girls. So the girls were split toward 'The gang of two' as it held both an enemy and an ally of women.

You could earn points with Hei if he saw you helping your classmates, specially if he saw you trying to tutor Monky and not let him copy your homework. He never had to ask for someone to bring a first-aid kit as many volunteered, just in case they'd need it.

One day, while Hei and Monky were watching the school's baseball team, an older boy came to the school fence and watched the practice. He waved back when the older students pointed at him. Hei accurately surmised he was a middle schooler who had attended this same club when he was younger. The older boy sighed and this drew Hei's attention.

"What's wrong, senpai (older schoolmate)?", he asked politely.

"Hmm? oh... nothing...", the boy answered.

"Are you sure?", Hei insisted.

".... yeah...", the boy replied with melancholy.

Monky's ears perked up.

"Well... if you're sure...", Hei said but then added: "We might be a year or two younger but keep in mind that keeping your feelings bottled up is no good. So go on and tell me, alright, senpai?"

"ah, no no, really, it's nothing! Thank you but I just sort of... it's nothing, really!", the boy replied flustered but ended just as gloomy as he had began.

An angry vein popped in Monky's forehead. "Sempai... what year are you on?", he asked, his pupils locked sharply on the older boy.

"uh... 2nd year of middle school (8th grade)", the 8th grader replied.

"oh, I see... Hei?"

"Yeah?", Hei replied, a bit curious.

"I'm gonna beat this guy up"

Both Hei and the 8th grader were taken aback.

"Are you looking down on my friend?", Monky growled and went on on an intimidating tone, "what? you think I'm scared of a guy with a bat?",

"L-let's just calm down, here..." Hei, still shocked, tried to reason with Monky.

"I hate guys who won't talk straight up!", Monky roared at the 8th grader as he struggled to climb over the fence as Hei tried to hold him back.

"H-hey, kid, relax! I- I didn't mean to look down on your friend but... It's a childish reason to feel down, honest!"

"So? we're kids!", Monky retorted with one leg already over the fence.

The boy hesitated but sighed again, in defeat.

He explained that his family's martial art was actually based off the sport of soft ball and as such, his accuracy with a bat and a softball were superb, and had taken his elementary school to the little league's finals . When he entered Middle School, however, there was no softball team and had failed to make it into the baseball team as he kept striking out. His family didn't take this too bad but they weren't happy about it and tried to change the usual practice with official Baseball equipment and facilities. It had been horrible, no one in his family was any good with pitches that weren't underhand-thrown, so they spent months trying to train him with a machine (and here hi bit his lips in shame). Their aim had been to train him to the point where he'd enter the team and then become the captain, but it had been no good. He had failed the Baseball team a second time. He had already called their parents about it and they didn't sound angry but he felt as if he had betrayed their expectations.